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MLB 2022 Preview: X-Factor for each AL West team

By Daniel Shi

Oct 25, 2021; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers (6) during team workouts at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. The Houston Astros will be playing the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2021; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers (6) during team workouts at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. The Houston Astros will be playing the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 13, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert (36) throws against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert (36) throws against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Seattle Mariners: Starting pitcher Logan Gilbert

Talent galore means plenty of options. My philosophy has always been pitching first. That’s mainly based on years of having to watch a subpar Angels pitching staff year after year.

How Robbie Ray handles the pressure of a new nine-figure contract will certainly be worth keeping tabs on, but Logan Gilbert, the long and lanky Florida native, is the cream of the crop as far as young pitching for the Mariners farm system.

Gilbert has shown signs of a breakout season but had a wildly inconsistent 2021. Gilbert had a strong first half with a 3.51 ERA/0.92 WHIP  but a 5.48/1.32 in the second half, mostly due to an awful August where his ERA ballooned to 9.

If Gilbert can harness his long lanky frame and produce throughout an entire season now that he has a full season of Major League experience under his belt, Seattle will have quietly built a formidable trio to spear the rotation with Ray, Gilbert, and Chris Flexen.

Houston Astros: Outfielder Jake Meyers

By the time this season is over, this Astros will quietly have gotten old. Jose Altuve is entering his age 32 season. Yuli Gurriel is already 37. Michael Brantley is 34 and played most of last year splitting time in left field and DH. Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander are both coming off injuries. Couple all of that with the expected departure of Carlos Correa post-lockout, this leaves the Astros looking for offensive output elsewhere.

It’s nearly impossible to judge a player with less than 50 games and 150 at-bats, but Astros fans must be encouraged with what they saw from Jake Meyers in 2021. In 49 games, Meyers had a .260/.323/.438 slash line and accumulated a 1.2 WAR. Meyers was poised to be a major postseason contributor until he crashed into the wall trying to chase down a fly ball in Game 4 of the ALDS.

Although Meyers will be out if the season starts on time (hold your breath everyone) because of that injury, consistent production out of the center-field spot will be key for Houston in a post-Springer era.

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